I would never consider getting a black cab because my perception is that they are expensive, opaquely priced, and with little oversight. I'd instead get an Uber where I know the price up front, it's cheaper (I think), and I can get in touch with someone if there's an issue.
My parents though got black cabs for years so would probably consider it over Uber, or at least alongside Uber as an option.
Uber killed the black cab, it just takes decades to change the habits of millions of people.
I read that all Uber rides are subsidised by the huge amount of investment they’ve received as they try to gain market share. Maybe at some point prices will return to similar to cabbies?
Also I find Uber to be sometimes manipulative, they regularly lie about how long it will take for your car to arrive and how surge pricing is enforced.
I’m not saying I don’t use Uber, I do, but I’m not certain Uber is definitely going to win long term.
Sooo... no thank you, getting Uber next time. At least there the driver uses a nav app.
I think black cabs are a lot easier if you have lots of luggage, or especially if you have a pram/stroller. Rearward facing seats are safer for kids and cabs seat six comfortably. And the final big advantage: in London, black cabs get to use the bus lanes which can save inordinate amounts of time at rush hour.
I still use Uber all the time but I just thought I would add some balance!
There is a graph of number of passengers and price and distance and often if it's over 3 or 4 people, taking a taxi may well be cheaper than public transport more times than not. A black cab can usually seat about 5 people with luggage. (Of course it doesn't apply if everyone has already paid for their public transport tickets via a pass, and does depend on distance and time of day etc etc)
This also applies in many other cities and towns, even more so because the taxis are cheaper and the roads less busy and the distances smaller. I particularly recommend it for families with children and luggage where the tube is a night mare, or for groups of friends going out at night. Of course private hire (e.g. uber) will be cheaper still.
Uber is a great service but their navigation tech seems pretty bad - if I get an Uber home I have to correct the driver because the route Uber wants to take tries to go up a farm track to get to my house. I've reported this problem to Uber but they don't seem to care.
Edit: Edinburgh is a nightmare to drive in at this time of year because of the festival closing a lot of roads - but normal taxi drivers don't seem to struggle?
Like most nav systems, the ideal combination is to be at least moderately familiar with the planned route and use the nav only to identify unforeseen traffic problems, road closures, etc.
… ??? But … why? Who is interested in the shortest route? I can see a customer caring about their time (and thus, would want Google Maps' quickest route) or their wallet (and would thus want the cheapest route — which is not necessarily the shortest as prices are based on time, as well as distance, traveled). TFA never elaborates.
Taxis charge by distance or by time whichever is reached first.
It might be that the distance is more of a factor than time or the other way around, or it could be that the rules just say that shortest is best as that's usually the quickest (in the days before traffic).
Mutants! :)
helsinkiandrew•5mo ago